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Formal Report
Reports provide audience members with information and recommendations based on that information.
Reports are written by multiple members of a team for multiple audience members, so each section of the
report must be clearly identifiable so that the various audience members will find their particular sections.
1. Writing Guidelines: Clear, concise, coherent, and well organized.
A. To maintain organization, use headings, page numbers, and highlighting techniques.
B. The page header of the report should include the title of the report and the year.
2. Transmittal Letter: Transmittal letters are not a part of the report, but they do accompany the
report, serve to identify the topic of the report, and supply a brief explanation. (Refer to the
Transmittal Letter Resource.)
3. Front Matter: Front matter is created after the body and back matter of the report. Front matter
is the first portion of the report and contains the title page, abstract, table of contents, list of
figures, list of tables, forward, preface, and list of abbreviations and symbols. Some of the
elements of the front matter may not be required; however, the title page and table of contents are
mandatory.
A. Purpose:
I. Explains the topic of the report.
II. Explains how the report is organized.
III. Provides the purpose of the report.
B. Page Numbers:
I. The numerical system for pages in the front matter is small Roman numerals.
II. The title page, though unnumbered, will be i. The back of the title page, still
unnumbered, is ii.
III. The abstract begins on iii. The back of the abstract is iv, but it is unnumbered.
IV. The table of contents begins on v.
C. Title Page: The formatting of the title page may vary, depending upon your company’s
requirements.
I. Include the full title of the report.
a) The title should reflect the topic, scope, and objective.
b) Include “feasibility” or “annual report” in the title or subtitle.
c) Do not abbreviate in the title.
d) Put the time period in the subtitle.
II. Include the names and titles of the writers, investigators, and compilers.
III. Include the dates and the time period represented by the report.
IV. Include the name of your organization.
V. Provide the name of the company or individual receiving the report.
D. Abstract: An abstract is a condensed version of the report. It summarizes the major
points of the report and is meant to provide enough information so that it can easily stand
alone. (Refer to the Abstract Resource.)
I. Abstracts are usually about 250-300 words.
II. Write the abstract after completing your report.
III. Begin with a topic sentence that provides the purpose and the scope of the report.
IV. Follow the headings of the table of contents to organize your information into
primary and secondary ideas and to provide the most important information.
V. Provide the methods that you used.
VI. Include results, conclusions, and recommendations.
E. Table of Contents (TOC): The table of contents provides the reader with a list of
headings and page numbers for each section of the report.
I. Use Roman numerals.
II. All chapters and section titles in the report should match the TOC.
III. Provide listings for major and subordinate headings that are separated by typeface
and indentions.
F. List of Figures: A list of figures is used when a report contains more than five figures.
I. List figures by title and page number.
II. Number figures consecutively with Roman numerals.
III. A list of tables is used if there are more than five tables in your report.
IV. Number tables consecutively in Arabic numbers.
G. Forwards: Forwards are optional and should be written by someone other than the author
of the report. Forwards may lean toward academic or scientific reports.
I. The forward should provide background information.
II. The forward should situate this publication with others in the field.
III. The author of the forward should be an expert in the field or an executive in the
company.
IV. The author’s name and date should be beneath the forward on a separate line.
H. Preface: A preface is also optional. The preface is an introductory statement written to
announce the purpose and scope of the report. A preface should do the following:
I. Provide the background and purpose of the report.
II. Specify the audience of the report.
III. Acknowledge any direct or indirect assistance.
IV. Cite permission for copyrighted work.
I. List of Abbreviations and Symbols: This list is used to clarify symbols and abbreviations.
You may either create a “Symbols and Abbreviations” page and list each symbol and
abbreviation along with its meaning, or you may divide the page into a “Symbols” page
and an “Abbreviations” page.
4. Body: The body contains the description and explanation of the purpose, scope, and methods and
contains an executive summary, introduction, text, conclusions, and recommendations.
A. Format:
I. Each section of the body has a different purpose and a different audience;
therefore, in each of the specific content sections, the purpose and audience will
be explained.
II. The pages are numbered with Arabic numbers and the first page of the body
begins at number 1.
B. Executive Summary: The executive summary is a more complete overview than the
abstract. (Refer to the Executive Summary Resource.)
I. Purpose: The purpose of an executive summary is to provide an overview of the
report.
II. Audience: The audience of the executive summary is executives or managers.
III. Organization: Use a heading that titles the executive summary as such.
IV. Length: The length of the executive summary is ten percent of the length of the
report.
V. Language: Do not use acronyms, abbreviations, or technical jargon. Do provide
the results or descriptions of significant figures. Do not refer your readers to
specific tables or figures; instead, report the results and briefly describe the
information.
C. Introduction: The introduction is meant to provide your reader with general information.
I. Audience: The managers as well as the individual shareholders who are interested
in specific sections may read the introduction.
II. Purpose: The purpose of the introduction is to provide the audience members with
general information that will provide them with an understanding of the
organization of the report.
III. Organization: Use headings and subheadings.
IV. Content:
a) Paragraph One: Provides the purpose of the report and introduces the
subject. You may also include a summary of the background
information and an overview of any methods.
b) Paragraph Two:
i. Provides more detail on the background information of the report,
such as the problem or justification.
ii. Includes the scope of the report, providing your audience with an
idea of the detail of the information and what specifics are being
addressed.
c) Paragraph Three: Provides any major findings or recommendations.
You may use plural first person to indicate the collaboration (“we found”
or “we recommend”).
d) The last section of the introduction will provide a preview of the contents
to follow. You will put the information in the order that you will present
it in the report.
D. Text Content Information: There are no set formulas for presenting the text, but do
consider the audience.
I. Provide the information in the order that is the most logical for your report.
II. Provide ample explanation for complex information.
III. Provide headings and subheadings.
IV. Introduce your graphics and provide explanation for the graphics. Identify each
figure with a title and number above or below the figure so that within your text
you can refer to the figure and the reader will have no problem finding the figure
you are referencing.
V. Place all tables and figures after they have been mentioned in the text.
E. Conclusions and Recommendations:
I. Pulls the report together.
II. Comes out of the findings discussed in the body of the report.
III. Provides the significance of the report.
IV. Provides recommendations for future actions.
V. Uses verbs such as should.
F. References:
I. Cite any and all sources that you have summarized, paraphrased, or quoted.
II. Cite any figures that you have used as a source and any data used to create graphs
or charts.
III. Follow the citation style that your company uses.
IV. Place the Reference page at the end of the body; however, if the report has a
number of sections or chapters, place the references at the end of each chapter or
section. If a source is used in multiple sections, place it in each of the reference
pages for each of the sections in which it is referenced.
5. Back Matter: Contains all supplemental documents: Bibliography, Appendices, Glossary,
Index, etc.
A. Bibliography: The bibliography is the alphabetical listing of the sources that you may
have used in your report. Provide all sources not just the ones you cite. The purpose of
the bibliography is to provide your reader with additional information and to credit your
sources.
I. The bibliography may be more exhaustive than the reference page because you
will be listing every source that you examined.
II. If the reference page is complete, you may not need a bibliography.
B. Appendices: The appendices are meant to supplement the body by providing additional
information that may be too dense for the audience of the report but may be of interest to
any secondary audience members.
I. The first page of the appendix is placed on a new page after the Bibliography.
II. Label the individual appendices as Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.
III. If the report has only one appendix, you will number the pages 1, 2, and 3;
however, if there is more than one appendix, you will provide double numbered
pages correlating to the letter (B-1, B-2, etc.) of each appendix.
C. Glossary: The glossary is the alphabetical listing of definitions of terms that you have
used in your report.
I. Define the terms concisely and simply.
II. Each entry should begin on a new line.
III. Even though you use a glossary, you should include definitions for uncommon
terms within your text.
D. Index: The index is an alphabetical listing of all topics and subtopics found in your
report. If your report will become a reference document, you will want to include an
index.
I. Cite the pages where major topics can be found.
II. Perform a word search to find page numbers for major topics.
III. The index is the last section of your report that you create.
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